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Our Faith
Introduction
Articles that help give an introduction to the Orthodox Christian faith.
The Orthodox Church: An Introduction
An ever-growing number of persons from various backgrounds are becoming interested in the Orthodox Church, as they discover its ancient faith and rich traditions. Attractive features include its mystical vision of God and His Kingdom, by the beauty of her worship, by the purity of her Christian faith, and by her continuity with the past. These are only some of the treasures of the Church which has a history reaching back to the time of the Apostles.
Teachings of the Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church throughout the ages has maintained a continuity of faith and love with the apostolic community which was founded by Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Orthodoxy believes that she has preserved and taught the historic Christian Faith, free from error and distortion, from the time of the Apostles. She also believes that there is nothing in the body of her teachings which is contrary to truth or which inhibits real union with God. The air of antiquity and timelessness which often characterizes Eastern Christianity is an expression of her desire to remain loyal to the authentic Christian Faith.
The Fundamental Teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church
A concise presentation of some fundamental teachings of Faith, Worship, Norms of Living and Principles of Administration of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
The Basic Sources of the Teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Includes: Importance of Orthodox Christian's Knowledge of Sources; Accurate Sources of the Orthodox Church (listed in chronological order, with short explanation); Contemporary Importance of Primary and Secondary Sources.
The Church
The life of the Orthodox Church perpetuates and fulfills the ministry of Jesus Christ. The close association between Christ and His Church is reflected in the images from the Scriptures which declare that Christ is the Head and the Church is His Body; and that Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is His bride. These images express the reality that the Church does not exist independently from Christ.
Introduction: What Is The Greek Orthodox Church?
Volumes have been written on the inexhaustible treasures of our Greek Orthodox heritage. It is not the purpose of this guidebook to instruct its readers in Orthodox theology of Church history. However, it is important to understand that everything we do is based upon the premise that the Orthodox Faith is founded upon the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and always.
A Dictionary of Orthodox Terminology - Part 1
A 'dictionary' listing and providing a brief definition of many terms one may come across in reading about Orthodoxy.
The Religious Quest as a Preparation for Christianity
The human being as part of the creation is not self-sufficient and autonomous for it owes its origins and existence to that Being whom we commonly call God. The human quest for identity and understanding of its place in the world, for creative self realization in history are realized in truths extant in and revealed by the Creator.
The Feast of Epiphany: The Feast of Lights
A Concise presentation of the Feast of Epiphany in its Biblical and historical background along with excerpts from the service of the sanctification of the waters as it is celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Holy Week in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Holy Week in the Eastern Orthodox Church institutes the sanctity of the whole calendar year of the Church. Its center of commemorations and inspiration is Easter wherein the glorified Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. Every Sunday is dedicated in the Eastern Orthodox Church to the Resurrection of the Lord. One hundred days also are dedicated to Easter, 50 before it for preparation, and another 50 after it for commemorating the glorification of the Lord. Easter is considered the 'Feast of Feasts'.
A Dictionary of Orthodox Terminology - Part 2
A 'dictionary' listing and providing a brief definition of many terms one may come across in reading about Orthodoxy.
Suffering and the Crucified Christ
Suffering is an inescapable aspect of human life in the present world. Suffering, affliction and tragic experiences disclose the vulnerable nature of human life; it enables us to recognize our limitations as human beings and our dependence upon others and upon God for sustenance in life.
Recent Articles
Pascha: The New Passover
Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Pascha -- the Resurrection of Jesus Christ -- on May 5, 2013 as the culmination of a marathon Holy Week that spans eight days and encompasses 18 distinct services.
The Extraordinary Historical Significance of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's Presence at Pope Francis' Installation as Bishop of Rome
Amid the crush of news reports in the past month that followed Pope Benedict's unprecedented resignation from the papacy, one of the most intriguing was the decision by His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to attend Pope Francis' installation as Bishop of Rome.
The Human Condition
Humanity, in Orthodox tradition, depends for its existence upon God’s gracious love. The fullness of being human can only be experienced in a communion of love with God and the "others" who mediate God's gracious presence in the world.
The Orthodox Church and the other Christian churches
The Orthodox Church today maintains cordial relations with other Christian churches and participates with them in joint efforts to recover the visible unity of all Christians. In this effort, it gives primacy to those aspects of faith that brings all Christian churches and communions closer without ignoring the substantive doctrinal and theological differences that caused their separation.
How Are We Saved?
Justification by faith is an authentic teaching of the New Testament. Equally, the acts of penitent prayer, asking God for forgiveness, and inviting Christ and the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts--these acts, too, are indispensable to Orthodox Christian life. But we must ask: is salvation a one-time event in life? What is the role of faith and works in the mystery of our salvation?
Coptic Manuscript brings Jesus' Name to the Headlines
The last several years have seen Jesus in the headlines over and over again, often because an artifact has been uncovered that purports to tell us something we never knew before. It is an amazing testament to the unique power of the person of Jesus that these stories continue to attract the attention even of unbelievers.
Jesus' Wife?
An announcement about an ancient text in which Jesus is reported to have spoken about "my wife" has received extensive attention in the media. The text comes from a small papyrus fragment about 1x3 inches in size, judged to be of the fourth century AD, which apparently had broken off from a larger page of a document presumed lost.
